Lincoln City Launch New Programme to Help Under 25’s Find Work
Lincoln City Foundation, like most charities has had a difficult year. Changing and adapting to the ever-changing landscape. With some projects on hold, the Foundation focused on helping their community through the pandemic, forming a COVID-Response team which assisted the vulnerable members of their community area with things like shopping, medication and support. And as we continue to recover from the Pandemic Lincoln City Foundation is continuing to adapt to their communities need. Unemployment in the under 25’s was identified a major emerging issue in their area. Therefore the Imps have created a new free 12-week traineeship programme which focuses on giving under 25’s the experience and skills they need to get back into work.
One young man who is benefiting from the programme is Jake, here is his story.
As a young child Jake always struggled to socialise, he says,
“Struggling with my confidence and concentration, I was bullied a lot throughout school. My later diagnosis of ADHD, Autism and Learning Difficulties came as a relief.”
However lockdown brought a fresh set of challenges for Jake, he continues,
“I found lockdown really difficult, as I struggled to keep up with my studies at college and was unable to go out anywhere. My relationships I had formed struggled in a virtual environment, and some never recovered. I went through a bad time and struggled with my mental health, feeling like I didn’t want to be here anymore because the lad I was 6 months before was happy had everything he wanted, but it felt like another barrier that I have to try and get passed and started to give up.”
Then Jake joined me to Lincoln City foundation local NCS programme.
“I didn’t want to do it, but my mum pushed me to go. I had a good time socializing with others again and doing activity’s which was a big boost of motivation and boosted my confidence up. After this had finished I felt motivated to do more, so I asked the Foundation about volunteering with them.”
“I stared working with the foundation about a year ago, working with their community team to deliver projects in my local area, supporting things like litter picks, COVID support and green spaces. I had never looked back and gone from strength to strength. I have now joined their Traineeship programme, developing new skills to help support me into further education and work.
After the year I had been through, meeting new people at the foundation, having the opportunity to work in new sectors and having the opportunity to improve myself, I feel great. I am really enjoying forming that bond working with others, whilst getting new qualifications.”
